Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Best tech platform for the blind (self.Blind)
submitted by vegetariancannibal
Hi All,
My friend has been using apple products because of their better screenreader technology. However, she's been having issues with frequent updates disrupting things and making websites no longer work. Her mac is ancient, and her iPhone is pretty old too (6S), but she doesn't exactly have the most money, and upgrading to a new Mac is going to be expensive. Her previous experiences with windows gave her the impression windows accessibility was unusable, but this was also in the XP/Vista era. Any recommended platforms? Is the default windows screenreader usable now? Any third party software that's recommended, that's going to be less than a new mac (around $1k)? I think she will be able to get a new iphone soon (her only experience with the android is the free phone she gets for being on disability - which apparently doesn't have enough processing power to run the accessibility tools well. I saw that one firsthand).
Thanks for the help -- she'd join the reddit community herself but there's something with her mac that has not allowed her to post on Reddit - she's tried several times and assumed it was caught up in infinite moderator queue until I went on her account and confirmed it never actually sent.
My friend has been using apple products because of their better screenreader technology. However, she's been having issues with frequent updates disrupting things and making websites no longer work. Her mac is ancient, and her iPhone is pretty old too (6S), but she doesn't exactly have the most money, and upgrading to a new Mac is going to be expensive. Her previous experiences with windows gave her the impression windows accessibility was unusable, but this was also in the XP/Vista era. Any recommended platforms? Is the default windows screenreader usable now? Any third party software that's recommended, that's going to be less than a new mac (around $1k)? I think she will be able to get a new iphone soon (her only experience with the android is the free phone she gets for being on disability - which apparently doesn't have enough processing power to run the accessibility tools well. I saw that one firsthand).
Thanks for the help -- she'd join the reddit community herself but there's something with her mac that has not allowed her to post on Reddit - she's tried several times and assumed it was caught up in infinite moderator queue until I went on her account and confirmed it never actually sent.
CloudyBeep 3 points 2y ago
She could get a computer from Computers For The Blind if she's in the US, but it would run Windows. She doesn't need to get the newest iPhone—Apple sells several older models.
Laser_Lens_4 2 points 2y ago
NVDA is an excellent free choice for Windows, but it will take a lot of adjustment from a Mac. In my experience, many features (like Braille) work better on Windows. Apple has been neglecting Mac OS for a while now.
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As for phones, the 6s is definitely getting on in age. What Android phone is she using? Most lower end models simply don't have the power to run Talkback smoothly. If she can, she should try a Pixel 3a or 4a or the iPhone SE 2020 which would all be useable options on the cheaper end. You can also look into other used iPhones.
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As for phones, the 6s is definitely getting on in age. What Android phone is she using? Most lower end models simply don't have the power to run Talkback smoothly. If she can, she should try a Pixel 3a or 4a or the iPhone SE 2020 which would all be useable options on the cheaper end. You can also look into other used iPhones.
vegetariancannibal [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I don't quite know the model. I know her disability program that gives her free phone/cell service gave it to her (insisting it should replace her flip phone), and that my cheapo aging Galaxy J7 Perx that has since died blew it out of the water in terms of performance. Isn't that great! You get a free phone! It's not a usable phone if you're blind, but how many disabled people are blind? (/s)
guitarandbooks 1 points 2y ago
You can get a Lenovo laptop with Windows 10 that has pretty good specs for well under $1k. As others have stated, NVDA is a great free option for a windows screen reader. Jaws is expensive to purchase up front but their yearly subscription plan is quite affordable.
If she uses Mac, the new MacBook Air 13 inch comes in at $999 with an Intel I3 dual core processor and $1299 with an Intel I5 quad core processor. (Both have ssds and touch ID etc. All the usual specs.)
Finally, to the person above who says that Mac accessibility has been broken for quite a while now, I have to disagree with you on that point. What led you to this conclusion exactly? There is room for improvement in certain areas but saying it's broken is like noticing a broken window in your kitchen and deciding to burn down the house because of it.
If she uses Mac, the new MacBook Air 13 inch comes in at $999 with an Intel I3 dual core processor and $1299 with an Intel I5 quad core processor. (Both have ssds and touch ID etc. All the usual specs.)
Finally, to the person above who says that Mac accessibility has been broken for quite a while now, I have to disagree with you on that point. What led you to this conclusion exactly? There is room for improvement in certain areas but saying it's broken is like noticing a broken window in your kitchen and deciding to burn down the house because of it.
FantasticGlove 1 points 2y ago
She should upgrade to Windows 10 and narrator sucks. There's a 0 priced screenreader called NVDA she can use. Most of the main websites are very accessible and if she's a gamer she can play more games on windows than mac also, Microsoft word and the Microsoft suite of products is the standard for jobs.
bscross32 1 points 2y ago
Windows is fine. Narrator is decent and getting better, but fails in electron apps. NVDA is free and is a good jumping off point.
She should ditch the mac. The only real use case for it is video and audio production.
She should ditch the mac. The only real use case for it is video and audio production.
Superfreq2 1 points 2y ago
If she lives in the U.S she could get JAWS for 90 dollars per year. I believe that JAWS is definitely the more newbie friendly choice as a Windows screen reader as it has lots of help built in and a large amount of training resources on the internet, plus it's the by far most common one taught by Vocational Rehabilitation Centers and blind schools.
It can also generally do more than any other screen readers for Windows, though NVDA, and to a lesser extent Narrator are definitely still solid options, and JAWS has what most consider a more confusing array of commands, options, and features, while also being somewhat slower and a bit more prone to crashes.
I also think that selling the 6S and her current Android to buy an SE2 or 8 would be a good idea, though if she prefers Android their are always the Pixel options as Laser Lens mentioned, or the new Galaxy S20 FE. Most users are reporting major lag issues on the 6S after upgrading to IOS14, so it's probably the end of the line for that model.
It can also generally do more than any other screen readers for Windows, though NVDA, and to a lesser extent Narrator are definitely still solid options, and JAWS has what most consider a more confusing array of commands, options, and features, while also being somewhat slower and a bit more prone to crashes.
I also think that selling the 6S and her current Android to buy an SE2 or 8 would be a good idea, though if she prefers Android their are always the Pixel options as Laser Lens mentioned, or the new Galaxy S20 FE. Most users are reporting major lag issues on the 6S after upgrading to IOS14, so it's probably the end of the line for that model.
BenandGracie 1 points 2y ago
I would go with Windows 10 for a computer, and a newer iPhone. Mac accessability has been broken for several years.
She should be fine with NVDA on Windows.
She should be fine with NVDA on Windows.
Prefect316 1 points 2y ago
I've heard from a friend of mine that Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, is much better these days. I'd think that in conjunction with the also free NVDA screenreader, she should be able to accessibly handle most use cases.
Jaws is in my opinion the best screen reading option on Windows, but it's costly and more and more I'm finding I'm on an island in that assessment. Lol.
Jaws is in my opinion the best screen reading option on Windows, but it's costly and more and more I'm finding I'm on an island in that assessment. Lol.
christopherpross 1 points 2y ago
Well, windows and the apple ecosystem are both accessibility friendly.
On the windows, you can use jaws, or NVDA. Of course, you can use narrator as well. But, jaws or NVDA are the better choice. I have also a Mac, but I am a software developer and not only programming swift for example. For my special case, it exists not many accessible apps out there.
Add windows, there are many accessible programs for my job.
In the case of smart phones, I can only speak for the iOS system, it works very well, and many apps are accessible.
But many blind people use android and are happy with them.
I would not recommend I will ask, if you’re not want to spent many dollars for a new iPhone. And I would S works perfectly, if you have also other Apple devices.
On the windows, you can use jaws, or NVDA. Of course, you can use narrator as well. But, jaws or NVDA are the better choice. I have also a Mac, but I am a software developer and not only programming swift for example. For my special case, it exists not many accessible apps out there.
Add windows, there are many accessible programs for my job.
In the case of smart phones, I can only speak for the iOS system, it works very well, and many apps are accessible.
But many blind people use android and are happy with them.
I would not recommend I will ask, if you’re not want to spent many dollars for a new iPhone. And I would S works perfectly, if you have also other Apple devices.
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